A diet pill for dogs?

Last January, when Pfizer launched Slentrol, the first (and currently only) FDA-approved “doggie diet” medication, I was incredulous. Was a diet pill really being touted as the magic bullet for man’s overweight best friends?

Slentrol, which is administered in liquid form under a veterinarian’s close supervision, is said to suppress Fido’s appetite and block the absorption of fat from his treats. How the drug works exactly is not well understood and side effects can include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. According to a Pfizer press release, an estimated 25 to 40 percent of dogs in our country (about 17 million) are obese, or on their way to super-sized status.

While most pet parents point fingers at the same culprits that cause people to blimp out — namely too much chow and not enough running around — others (vets in Pfizer’s lab pockets perhaps?) consider this therapy a “welcome addition to canine medicine.”

Regardless of whether you think a pill is the answer, the reality is that as our schedules get increasingly hectic, our pets are spending more and more time alone, eating out of boredom and getting less exercise. And often when we finally do get home, we lavish our furry friends with treats — as an expression of our love (and our guilt for leaving them behind). As Bonnie Beaver of the American Veterinary Medical Association says, “We’re killing our pets with kindness.”

Would you consider using Slentrol as a weight remedy for your dog? Why or why not? Share your tips for keeping your pets at a healthy weight.

Also, in case you missed them, be sure to check out these previous weight-related posts: